Sully, George H.W. Bush’s Service Dog, Returns to NY

Sully, George H.W. Bush's service dog, has returned to New York for a break before his next assignment. NBC 4's Stacey Bell reports.

(Published Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018)

The canine Sully touched hearts as the beloved companion of the 41st president before Bush's death at 94 in November. Sullenberger, 68, is a retired airline captain who saved 155 people aboard US Airways Flight 1549 in 2009 when he safely landed the crippled plane in New York City's Hudson River.

Sully was sent to Bush by America's VetDogs, an organization that trains and places service dogs with disabled military veterans and first responders. Bush was a pilot in the Navy who served in World War II.

"What a vigil he was holding," Sullenberger said. "It was quite a moving image. That was the iconic image for me of the whole service."

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Sully bonded with the whole Bush family, who called him "Sully H.W. Bush." He was particularly adored by Jenna's daughters, Mila, 5, and Poppy, 3, who made a special appearance on TODAY to give their good buddy a hug before he embarks on his new mission.

Sully will be joining the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center's Facility Dog Program starting next week, where he will work with wounded veterans.

"It was very important to President Bush that Sully carry on serving veterans, so he chose that Sully wouldn't work for one individual person, but that he would serve many veterans, and the hospital setting is the perfect environment for that," Sully's trainer, Valerie Cramer, said on TODAY.

Dogs have also been an important part of Sullenberger's life. His family has been training guide dogs for the blind for more than 20 years, and his oldest daughter is now in school to become a veterinarian after raising guide dog puppies.

"It's dear to our heart," Sullenberger said.

He can also take pride in the fact that the other Sully will continue their custom of helping others in need.

"I think he's going to uphold the tradition quite well I can see," he said.